Chisoxfn

QUOTE (santo=dorf @ Apr 17, 2009 -> 03:26 PM) Minor league deal. No biggie. I knew "Doobie" wouldn't amount to anything with the Sox organization. I still the Sox shouldn't given up Iguchi to Phillies so easily after Utley went down. It made the 2007 team look even more like the Pirates. However, if you don't make that trade, do the Sox get a high enough pick to get Beckham?

Is he going to play on the major league roster? I'm a bit confused. Who will he replace? I assume this is more of a depth move and he might eventually slide onto the big league roster as a utility guy. I assume they'll replace Owens with him (unless Pods sticks) and than use Lillibridge as the primary backup in CF.

Thats a steal for Buffalo. He made a lot of money and didn't perform. Plus with the 28th pick, I think if you draft right you get an olineman who doesn't have attitude and hold out issues at a lower financial price tag. That said, they might not be a probowler immediately, but Peters was far from a probowler last year.

QUOTE (WCSox @ Apr 17, 2009 -> 08:48 AM) And if that's the case, I imagine that he would've been traded by now. It's not like Ozzie has been a huge BA supporter. This is why I call BS on this rumor. The problem is Kenny doesn't really want to give up a ton to get a CF, especially since I believe the organization is very high on Danks/Shelby. The thing is there are going to be at least a few spots coming open next year (Thome/Dye will be gone) so that could allow the Sox to be able to acquire someone to play CF this year and still be able to move them to another position while they also can find ways to get Brandon Allen, Viciedo, and Beckham at bats (since I'd have to imagine all three are going to be starting for the Sox or at least getting significant playing time next season). Allen is just transforming into an elite type of offensive prospect.

QUOTE (YASNY @ Apr 17, 2009 -> 08:41 AM) If KW is looking for a CF, that tells me that he doen't believe BA can do the job. We all know that BA will never be able to hit enough for the club to not always be at least considering addressing the CF spot, imo. Thats just how bad of a hitter he is.

QUOTE (G&T @ Apr 17, 2009 -> 12:13 PM) This was the same as people said last year. Thome will be fine if he's healthy. That said, he has to be moved from the 4 spot. Without Thome in the middle of the order, your going to have one massive string of right handed hitters. Is that something the Sox are willing to do? Maybe you can move Thome to the 5th spot, but as long as he's in the lineup they are going to have him somewhere near the middle of the order because of his ability to get on base and the fact that he's the only left handed bat in the lineup that projects as a middle of the order hitter (AJ does not). And Wise, forget about it.

QUOTE (G&T @ Apr 17, 2009 -> 05:47 AM) Getz hasn't been very good, but he is young (unlike Wise) and should be given a chance to work through it. He is making contact, but unless he gets that his top hand working he is going to hit fly balls. His last two AB's were good. Getz has started what, 10 games in his major league career. The guy shows a lot of promise, has great strike zone judgement, and as a whole has done as good of a job as anyone leading off with the limited big league experience he has. Getz is the guy. Sure there are better options, but I'm pretty confident Getz will do his thing. He's also had a history of putting up above average minor league numbers. Basically put, he deserves the chance, where as Wise/BA aren't leadoff hitters. There major and minor league stats both point you in that direction since neither will ever post OBP's over .300.

QUOTE (kyyle23 @ Apr 16, 2009 -> 09:21 AM) I hope to god that this means Frank Caliendo will finally be rendered COMPLETELY IRRELEVANT instead of just mostly irrelevant He's got 2 more years on his Fox Sunday contract. He was on the radio today and they were asking him how it was going to effect his career since Bush and Madden, his two best impersonations are now out of the public eye.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 16, 2009 -> 08:04 AM) Of the candidates to be targeted by KW, Rowand and that contract are probably near the bottom. It all depends on what the Giants want to do with Rowand. If they regret that contract and can get rid of about half of it (with them picking up the other half) it might be a good move on there part, especially if they get a guy like Poreda or better out of it. His 08 numbers weren't great, but he's clearly a significant upgrade over what the club currently has. He'd also slide in nicely to the 2nd spot in the lineup, imo.

Kyle, do you have the info on that. I'd like to do that. Is it just on there website?

Umm...its not over yet.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 11:54 AM) His .280 career avg. would indicate he does more than homer and walk. I was more or less referring to the Thome on the Sox, who isn't as good as he once was. Thomas turned into a similar player later in his career as well.

Dick, everyone knows I'm biased against Thome. I flat out don't like guys who only hit for power and draw walks. That said, those type of guys have places on certain teams and I will admit Thome's value. But as a pure hitter, I don't consider him even close to being a very good hitter. He does other things though, like hit for obscene power (same with Adam Dunn whose a horrendous pure hitter).

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 11:42 AM) And when the Sox traded Sweeney most thought he sucked. Its funny how 1 AB gets everyone to pounce on BA. I knew and everyone knew it would happen if he fanned. If he doubled, some of the same people beating him to a pulp right now, saying how he has a bad swing and will never have one, would be saying he's a talented guy who may be coming around. It was 1 AB. Everyone in the White Sox line-up has struck out it the same situation many times. This board overreacts about everything. I think most of us realized Sweeney would never be a major league star and Swisher had the chance to be one so the deal was worth it. Plus Sweeney had wrist injuries and problems throughout his minor league career. As a whole though, no one could deny Sweeney's tools and the beauty of his swing (even though his swing was actually better 3 years ago than it is today, haha). They made adjustments to try and get him to hit for a bit more power and he struggled with the adjustments for quite a while.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 11:41 AM) I'll tell you something right now, Aaron Poreda will probably make his major league debut with another club, he is 100% trade bait for us this season for a CF'er/leadoff hitter. And I have zero problem with that because I think his trade value is greater than his overall value to the White Sox. I like a lot of our other relief arms, plus I think Richard/Thornton are fine so we can afford losing our one power lefty prospect. That said if we keep him I hope he develops the secondary pitch, but as a whole, I'm not a fan of his delivery. If he stays healthy though, he will be a great reliever/closer.

QUOTE (Jenksy Cat @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 11:38 AM) And you can substitute JO and DW in that same sentence. I have no doubt that Owens could hit above .240. It might be an incredibly empty average, but he'd hit in the .260-.270 range with a low OBP and nothing but singles. Wise would hit in the .250's (he's a much better hitter than Anderson) and put up some pop (10-20 HR's) and a ton of doubles as well as strikeouts. Oh and a full season of Anderson and I guarantee the all time strikeout record will be set.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 11:37 AM) I cosign on that. Pretty sure we would have had to send 42 virgin hookers with BA to compensate for the talent downgrade. I don't think anyone could ever question the fact that a healthy Sweeney was going to hit for a good average, the only question was how empty the average would be. I always have compared him to Garret Anderson and I do believe that one day he'll have a few seasons where he hits for decent power, but as a whole, Sweeney will be a good major leaguer, never a star, but I can definately see him having quite a few .300 seasons. The question is will he hit for enough doubles and have the OBP to the point that he would be really effective in the 1 or 2 spot in the order (he won't steal enough bases to be considerd a true #1 by most teams though).

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 11:35 AM) He was given 40 games pretty much before he lost his starting job in 06. Row, I'm sorry, there is no defending Anderson. It's one thing if he was strugglign cause of pitch recognition or this or that. He sucks offensively because he has some of the biggest holes I've ever seen out of a major league hitter. And those who say he once had a pretty swing, I'll tell you this, his swing is better today than it was 4 years ago when he was raking in Bham, etc. His swing was always horrendous but back than he could get away with it. Against major leaguers he has no chance, none.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 11:30 AM) And Ozzie hardly ever uses him as a defensive replacement anyways. That's why I'd rather them just get rid of him completely. Maybe this is his chance, maybe he'll get two weeks of solid starts. I don't know. I don't think he's the be-all CFer, but I think he needs a shot. All I'm saying. All I've ever said. Who knows, consistent playing time may get him comfortable enough to where he shortens up enough and stops forcing things. But he has such a rigid and mechanical swing.

QUOTE (Soxpranos @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 11:16 AM) The Anderson train was "Hype" from the start. Don't believe the hype. There is a reason, Jerry Owens, Dwayne Wise, Darin Erstad (old/broke down), Mackowiak all eventually started over Anderson. Its because offensively he has one of the worse swings known to man and the only way he'd ever be successful is based upon pure physical abilities (and even than, he'd have to severely improve pitch recognition, eye, etc). Basically put, BA as a good all around player is damn near impossible. I can't ever rule it out because the tools he has are tremendous, but watch him swing and you'll see why he'd struggle to hit .240 over the course of a full major league season (I'd probably pin him for more like a .220 average).

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 11:15 AM) LOL wow. That didn't take long at all for people to jump off the Anderson train. Jesus. I was a big BA supporter at times (well advocating him over other guys) but I think it was pretty evident from the get go that he didn't have a big league swing and thats why I've consistently said the Sox need to find someone else for CF. He's tremendous defensively so I'd keep him for those purposes, but as a hitter, he's absolutely putrid.

QUOTE (TitoMB345 @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 11:15 AM) So does Wise, and he was given a shot. So does Owens, and he has been given chances. It always seems like BA is last to play, and only if absolutely necessary (Wise injury, Owens sucking in AAA). I just want him to be given a chance like everyone else, because he definitely plays the best D out of the bunch. Honestly, you can't even compare Wise and Anderson. Wise has a hell of a lot more of an idea of what he's doing up at the plate than Anderson. Wise isn't that great, but as a 4th/5th outfielder there is a lot of value and I'd have a s***load more faith with Wise up in that situation than Anderson and I don't think anyone in baseball would disagree with that assessment either.

QUOTE (pcullotta @ Apr 15, 2009 -> 11:12 AM) BA is one of the worst hitters I have ever seen He has a ton of physical ability, but his actual swing is one of the ugliest I've ever seen from an actual player. Its why I would always question his true-up side as a prospect and why I felt if he would make it, it would be similar to Torri Hunter where it took him a while to finally make it in the majors and that even than you'd be talking about a guy who'd have a relatively low AVG and OBP, but pretty good power periph's. However, Anderson clearly won't ever be Hunter offensively. He's practically Randy Johnson offensively. Anderson has a place in this league as a pinch runner and defensive CFer, thats probably it.

Couldn't Nix potentially play CF?

Guys, I hope BA proves me wrong, but he still has one awful swing. If he ends up making it, it will be because he just has fantastic physical abilities.